Display stand



1958 R. J. FITSER 2,848,119

DISPLAY STAND Filed Feb. 11, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Robert J. Firser INVENTOR.

wfi lfi% I 1958 R. J. FlTSER 2,848,119

DISPLAY STAND Filed Feb. 11. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Robert J. Fifser INVENTOR.

I BY W /19m United States Patent 2,848,119 DISPLAY STAND Robert J. Fitser, Baltimore, Md.

Application February 11, 1954, Serial No. 409,551

3 Claims. (Cl. 211137) This invention relates to a display stand and more specifically provides a novel and improved structure in shelf supporting brackets which may be utilized in various orientations for retaining shelves in supported relation to a supporting surface.

An object of this invention is to provide a shelf bracket which is simple in construction, easy to use and assemble, versatile in utility, well adapted for its intended purposes, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shelf bracket which may be utilized in conjunction with elongated or circular shelves wherein the shelves may be spaced above a supporting surface and in vertically spaced relation to each other.

A further object of this invention is to provide a shelf bracket which is easily and positively secured to the shelf members thereby retaining the shelf members and the shelf brackets in assembled relation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the shelf brackets of the present invention utilized in supporting a pair of shelf members;

Figure 2 is a group perspective showing one of the shelf brackets utilized in the construction of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken in a vertical plane through a portion of one of the shelf brackets showing the details of construction of the shelf bracket;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan section taken substantially along section line 44 of Figure 3 showing the details of construction of the lower shelf engaging member;

Figure 5 is a detailed top plan section taken substantially along section line 55 of Figure 3 showing the slot for engaging the rear portion of the lower shelf member;

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the shelf brackets of the present invention utilized with a pair of vertically spaced segmental shelves;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the shelf brackets of the present invention utilized with circular shelves; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the shelf brackets of the present invention wherein a single shelf is supported in spaced relation to a supporting surface.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, it will be seen that the numeral 10 generally designates the shelf bracket of the present invention for supporting a pair of elongated shelf members 12 and 14. The shelf members 12 and 14 are provided with a shelf bracket 10 at each end thereof and a description of one of the shelf brackets 10 will be suflicient for the purposes of describing the invention.

Referring now specifically to Figure 2, it will be seen that the shelf bracket 10 includes a lower horizontal member 16 for engaging a supporting surface and the horizontal member 16 is provided with a short upturned end 18 at its rearmost end. At the forward end of the horizontal portion 16 is a vertically upstanding and rearwardly inclined member 20 terminating in an offset reversely bent portion 22 which forms a longitudinal support for the under surface of the lower shelf 12.

The offset portion 22 is offset longitudinally and terminates in a forwardly extending offset portion 24 which is reversely bent into a horizontal portion 26 which is in spaced relation to the offset portion 24 thereby forming a slot for receiving the shelf 12 wherein the offset portions 22 and 24 grip the under surface of the shelf 12 and the horizontal portion 26 engages the upper surface of the horizontal shelf 12. 7

An upwardly and rearwardly inclined rod 28 extends from the horizontal portion 26 and terminates in a U- shaped portion 30 having spaced parallel portions that engage the upper and lower surfaces of the upper shelf 14. The inner end of the U-shaped portion terminates in a downwardly projecting hook member 32 which is in alignment with the upturned member 18 and vertically spaced therefrom. A brace member 34 having sockets on each end thereof is engaged between the downturned hook portion 32 and the upturned end portion 18 for spacing and bracing the horizontal portion 16 and the upper portion of the U-shaped member 30.

Adjacent the center portion of the spacer 34 is a U- shaped clip 38 which engages and supports the rear edge of the lower shelf 12 thereby providing a rigid support for the lower shelf 12 and the upper shelf 14 and the spacer 34 provides adequate bracing for the shelf members 12 and 14 wherein a substantial load may be carried thereby. It will be seen that an identical shelf bracket 10 is placed at each end of the shelf members 12 and 14 or if desired, as many shelf brackets may be utilized as needed.

The longitudinally offset portion 22 provides longitudinal stability to the shelf members 12 and 14 and prevents pivoting of the brackets 10 in relation to the shelf members 12 and 14. Further, it will be seen that in Figure 4 the reversely bent portion extends on both sides of the horizontal member 26 and the vertically and rearwardly inclined member 20 thereby providing stability of the shelves 12 and 14 in both directions.

As specifically shown in Figure 6, three of the shelf brackets 16 are utilized with a pair of segmental shelves 40 and 42 with the lower shelf 40 being larger than the upper shelf 42 and the segmental nature of the shelves 40 and 42 permitting the braces to be positioned centrally therein.

As shown in Figure 7, four of the shelf brackets 10 are utilized with circular shelves 44 and 46 and in this instance, the vertically disposed spacers or bracers 34 are eliminated and due to the offset of the hook 32, the downturned end portion terminates vertically above the upper surface of the upper shelf 46. Due to the specific arrangement of the shelf brackets 10, the support formed by the horizontal portion 16 adequately positions the shelf members 44 and 46 in position.

As specifically shown in Figure 8, the shelf brackets 10 are terminated at the end of the horizontal portion 26 and at the upper end of the U-shaped clip 38 on the brace 34 thereby providing a support for a single shelf member 48. It will be seen that any type of shelf such as transparent glass may be utilized in conjunction with the brackets 10 as desired in each individual circumstance.

Further, it will be understood that the shelf bracket may be used for supporting a shelf, picture, or other objects on a vertically disposed wall by merely securing the portions 16, 18, or 32 of the shelf bracket 10 to the vertical wall thereby forming a support for holding pictures or the like on a wall. Further, it will be understood that the shelf bracket 10 may be constructed for supporting three vertically spaced shelves as desired or by combining the use of the modified form of the shelf bracket 10 as shown in Figure 8 with an elongated lower shelf, an upper shelf may be supported over a portion of the lower shelf by utilizing a bracket as shown in Figure 1.

It will be understood that the size and particular arrangement of the bracket is optional and dependent upon the particular use in which the shelf bracket will find utility.

The simplicity of the construction of the shelf bracket 10 and its versatile utility together with the economic feasibility will make the shelf bracket 10 of the present invention desirable in various display cases requiring a pleasing appearance for the shelf brackets and the shelves.

Further, a U-shaped clip 33 may be positioned on spacer 34 for engaging the rear edge of each shelf 14. This arrangement is especially desirable when utilizing the brackets 10 for supporting two or more shelves.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A display stand comprising a plurality of shelves, and a plurality of supporting brackets therefor, each of said brackets comprising a first horizontal portion having an upturned rear end, a first upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion secured to the forward end of the first horizontal portion, a first U-shaped portion at the upper end of said first inclined portion, a second horizontal portion joined to said first U-shaped portion for engaging the upper surface of a first shelf, a second upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion extending from the rear end of said second horizontal portion, a second U-shaped portion on the upper end of the second inclined portion for engaging a second shelf, a third horizontal portion extending from the second U-shaped portion and terminating in a downturned end portion in vertical alignment with the upturned end on the first horizontal portion, a spacer rod having sockets on each end for detachable positioning between the end portion of the first and third horizontal portions, and a U-shaped clip secured to the spacer rod for engaging and supporting the rear edge of the first shelf.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said first U-shaped portion is provided with offset portions extending longitudinally of the first shelf and engaging the undersurface thereof for preventing tilting movement of the bracket.

3. A display stand comprising a shelf and a plurality of laterally spaced upright supporting brackets therefor, each of said brackets including a resilient rod having a horizontal portion for engaging a supporting surface, said horizontal portion having an upturned rear end and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined front portion having a reversely bent lateral portion longitudinal with respect to the shelf and lying in a horizontal plane and supporting the shelf, said return bent portion terminating in a second return bent portion transverse to the shelf and lying in a vertical plane and straddling and supporting the front edge of the shelf.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 645,666 Helstrorn Mar. 20, 1900 704,957 Croom July 15, 1902 884,848 Page Apr. 14, 1908 916,785 Rowell Mar. 30, 1909 933,142 Vogt Sept. 7, 1909 1,146,488 Finlelstein July 13, 1915 1,284,235 Carlin Nov. 12, 1918 2,628,141 Scheuer Feb. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 383,386 Great Britain Nov. 17, 1932 

